The high-capacity submarine cable will span 1,070 kilometers, equivalent to the length of the Tagus River.
The Barracuda Project, which includes a data center, was originally planned in 2022 to connect Alicante and Marseille.
The investment fund manager Teset Capital has announced a €100 million investment in the development of the Barracuda Project, a critical infrastructure initiative that will link Valencia and Genoa via a high-capacity submarine fiber optic cable. This infrastructure will position Valencia as a key digital connectivity hub in the Mediterranean. In collaboration with Valencia Digital Port Connect (VDPC), the project includes the installation of the fiber optic submarine cable, an Edge Data Center, and a Cable Landing Station (CLS).
According to its developers, the Barracuda Project—which was originally planned to connect Alicante and Marseille, as announced by the Generalitat in 2022—will not only strengthen Valencia’s position as a strategic telecommunications hub but also create new business opportunities for both local and multinational companies.
Installation
The project involves the deployment of a 1,070 km-long submarine fiber optic cable, the same length as the Tagus River, connecting Valencia and Genoa and providing direct connectivity to other European destinations. The cable will feature 12 fiber pairs, each with a capacity of 32 Tbps. The system will also include branching units, allowing for future extensions to additional locations.
The infrastructure includes a high-capacity neutral data center, initially equipped with 1.5 MW of electrical power and a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) below 1.25. Designed to be sustainable and scalable, the facility will feature a 250 kWp solar power plant. The data center will meet Tier IV-equivalent standards, the highest classification in terms of availability and redundancy.
The Valencia installation will be a neutral and open cable landing station (CLS) capable of accommodating up to four submarine cable systems. This will enable future expansion, further strengthening Valencia’s digital infrastructure and positioning the city as a key connectivity hub in the Mediterranean.
With an estimated development time of three years, the Barracuda Project is expected to be operational by early 2028. Additionally, a terrestrial fiber interconnection network will link Valencia to Madrid and Lisbon, while Genoa will connect to Milan.
Economic and Technological Impact
Teset Capital’s investment will have a significant economic impact on the Valencian region, boosting job creation and attracting technology companies. With this infrastructure, Valencia will emerge as a new low-latency connectivity hub, competing with Madrid and Lisbon in the European digital ecosystem.
With a 30-year business horizon, the Barracuda Project will generate revenue through long-term contracts, offering connectivity solutions through fiber pair and wavelength sales, as well as data center services.
The client base for this advanced digital infrastructure will include a wide range of industries, benefiting both local and international businesses.
José Arango, a partner at Teset Capital, stated:
“Through this strategic investment, Teset Capital reaffirms its commitment to developing cutting-edge and sustainable telecommunications infrastructure. At a time when cloud services, artificial intelligence, and the expansion of 5G networks are driving an increasing demand for high-speed, low-latency data transmission, this project is more relevant than ever.”
Digital Infrastructure
Enrique Martín Gullón, CEO of Valencia Digital Port Connect, emphasized:
“The Barracuda Project will strengthen the region’s digital infrastructure, boost the local economy, and provide high-speed connectivity to businesses and institutions. We are responding to a world increasingly driven by data, and we are confident that this project will have a positive impact on the economic recovery of the Valencian Community following the effects of the recent storms.”
Teset Capital is an independent fund manager registered with the CNMV, specializing in investment opportunities in transportation, energy, social, environmental, and digital infrastructure projects across the Eurozone.
Valencia Digital Port Connect (VDPC) is a telecommunications infrastructure company based in Alicante.
